Top 10 Anime Masterminds

VO: Dan Paradis
Written by Alex Crilly-Mckean
I bet they planned this list all along… Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we are counting down our picks for the top ten anime masterminds.
For this list, we’ll be looking at the at the anime characters notable for their vast intellect and ability to manipulate, whether they be heroes, villains or something in between.
Keep in mind that there may be some spoilers down the line.
Special thanks to our user governmentfree for submitting the idea on our interactive suggestion tool: WatchMojo.comsuggest/Top+10+Anime+Masterminds

Top 10 Anime Masterminds

I bet they planned this list all along… Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we are counting down our picks for the top ten anime masterminds.
For this list, we’ll be looking at the at the anime characters notable for their vast intellect and ability to manipulate, whether they be heroes, villains or something in between.
Keep in mind that there may be some spoilers down the line.

#10: Keima Katsuragi

“The World Only God Knows” (2010-13)
Goes to show that playing dating sims really does pay off! While revered for his ability to “conquer” any virtual girl, back in the real world Keita has no such luck. However, when his female classmates are possessed by demonic spirits that threaten to turn them into husks, it’s up to Keima to save their lives by winning their hearts. Considering over the course of the series he manages to romance a whole plethora of girl, with only video game knowledge at his disposal…maybe he really is a God.

#9: Koko Hekmatyar

“Jormungand” (2012)
You just have to look at this girl’s resume to see that she really has her stuff together, but then again you pretty much have to be if you’re an illegal weapons dealer. A charismatic businesswoman as well as a ruthless monster, Koko is the last person that you should underestimate. She’s a natural when it comes to distributing her lethal merchandise and will do whatever it takes to take out her competition. But when she’s not playing warlord, she’s playing big sister to little Jonah - Hey, death dealers have hearts too.

#8: Gakuto

“Prison School” (2015)
When you’ve got a big sumo date but you’re detained by ladies like THAT, then you’ll need just as much brainpower as you can get. Luckily for Kiyoshi, there’s Gakuto. While he’s just as perverted as the rest of the group, he’s also responsible for thinking up all the genius escape attempts, despite their often lack of effectiveness. Even when things go south, he is always willing to take a metaphorical bullet for his bro.

#7: Yang Wenli

“Legend of the Galactic Heroes” (1988-97)
In a time of intergalactic conflict, not only do you need men who can fire a weapon, but also tacticians who are just as dedicated to saving lives as they are to defeating the enemy. For the Free Planets Alliance Star Fleet that man is Yang. Originally wanting to become nothing more than a historian, his natural strategy skills managed to snatch victory away from the Galactic Empire on multiple occasions, and also saved the lives of countless innocents caught in the cosmic crossfire.

#6: Gakuho Asano

“Assassination Classroom” (2015-16)
As effective as it is, let’s hope other schools don’t follow in this guy’s footsteps. This principal is all about maintenance over morals, creating Class E as a means of discriminating against the lowest scoring students. While he’s an excellent teacher, his cruel methods dictate that it’s better to instil strength in his students over ethics. Even in the face of a planet-destroying creature, Gakuho doesn’t hesitate to antagonize – proving he will do absolutely anything to achieve his perfect education system.

#5: Madara Uchiha

“Naruto Shippuden” (2007-)
Black Zetsu may have been the slippery eel that used everyone to awaken Kaguya, but before that plot point was shoehorned in, this ninja was feared by all. Madara not only managed to overcome his initial death, he subsequently went on to lead Obito down the path of revenge, form the Akatsuki, start the fourth Great Ninja War, resurrect himself, take control of the Tailed Beasts and become the new Sage of the Six Paths. That takes a lot of planning and a lot of power.

#4: Shigeru Akagi

“Akagi” (2005-06)
Even those not familiar with the game of mah-jong can imagine that it takes a certain level of thinking and concentration in order to play. Akagi is a teenage prodigy whose gambling instincts are so sharp that he can destroy professionals. As his reputation skyrockets, Akagi soon finds himself in the underground circuits against other dangerous individuals with top-notch mah-jong skills, where the game soon becomes less about earning ridiculous amounts of money and more about staying alive.

#3: Sosuke Aizen

“Bleach” (2004-12)
This Shinigami is all about deception. While originally playing nice guy, it turns out Aizen was manipulating everyone in Soul Society from the start. Faking his own death allowed him to work his way towards one of anime’s biggest betrayals, declaring that it was all part of his plan to ascertain godhood. He took over Hueco Mundo, created the Espada, apparently mapping out Ichigo’s entire life’s journey, and came within an inch of actually accomplishing his goal. We know he’s meant to be smart but this guy is literally clairvoyance incarnate.

#2: Light Yagami

“Death Note” (2006-07)
Turns out becoming God of the New World isn’t as hard as you’d think. You just need to have no qualms about killing and a notebook that will off people by writing their names. Soon you will have the world at your knees. As Kira, Light managed to become a judgemental figure that blurs the line between justice and murder, all the while engaging in a battle of wits with his nemesis L as they both tried to decipher one another’s true identities. While his time as a deity may have been short, there’s no denying that Light was masterful.

#1: Lelouch Vi Britannia

“Code Geass” (2006-08)
His mission of liberation took him from a simple student to the poster boy of a rebellion. Armed with the Geass, an ocular ability that allowed him to temporarily control anyone under his gaze, Lelouch took on the masked mantle of Zero and assembled the Order of the Black Knights in the hope of defeating his homeland of Britannia. His impeccable strategies, dual identity and questionable morality eventually succeeded in freeing everyone from the shackles of tyranny, but only after painting himself as the ultimate evil, and at the cost of his own life. Checkmate.